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Exeter re-sign four

Exeter expressed faith in their current players by renewing four player contracts this week.

Hooker Elvis Taione, utility back Ian Whitten and left-wing James Short have each committed for the next two seasons while lock Damien Welch will be at Sandy Park for another season.

Speaking to the club's official website today, head coach Rob Baxter said: "Obviously we’re really pleased to announce that the four guys have signed new deals."

The club managed to secure the signatures of two new players earlier this month, Australian prop Greg Holmes from the Queensland Reds and Bath playmaker Ollie Devoto.

Both Holmes and Devoto will join the English club on two-year deals, at the start of next season.

Baxter has expressed his confidence in the re-signing of these four players and has commended them.

"We knew Shorty would offer us a genuine attacking threat and we're delighted to see that he is fulfilling the potential we saw in him," he said.

"Likewise Elvis has done a fantastic job for us in recent weeks, stepping up especially when we picked up the injury to Luke Cowan-Dickie.

"We always knew what he could bring to the team and over the last month or so he's been involved in some very big moments for us."

In form lock Damian Welch recently underwent a pectoral operation.

"As for Damo, he was having probably his best season with us until he got injured over in Clermont.

"That was obviously disappointing for him and for us, but the good thing is he's well into his rehab programme now and it’s almost like he's having another pre-season programme and that will enable him to come back even stronger.

"We're confident we'll see him before the end of the season and that he – along with the other guys – can have a big part to play in how we do between now and the end of the season."